Balch Sports
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RECENT EVENTS
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- Balch Sports Clients Capture College World Series, BCS Championship & Super Bowl
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Universities and professional organizations have someone looking out for them, so should you. With more than twenty years experience in the sports arena, Balch Sports is recognized nationally as an authority in this area. Whether the task is pursuing a premier coaching position or a career in professional sports, Balch Sports has the resources and ability to help you achieve your goals. We do things one way: the right way. We zealously represent our clients without ever sacrificing our character, integrity, or the character and integrity of our clients.
COACHES
Balch Sports can help you realize your career goals in a discreet, professional manner that helps you maximize your career earning potential while protecting your current and future rights. Representing head coaches, coordinators, and assistants, Balch Sports is prepared to assist you in restructuring existing contracts, pursuing premier positions and maximizing marketability. While the client list includes many of the most high-profile coaches in the nation, the practice is also committed to discovering emerging, up-and-coming coaches at all levels.
We have a proven track record of identifying the right opportunities and equipping our clients to realize those opportunities. There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. Every situation is unique and requires a unique approach. Balch Sports recently received the highest compliment following the placement of one of its clients when the University’s Athletic Director made the following statement at the introductory press conference: “One of the members of the [search firm] that assisted with the search told us that [the incoming coach’s] interview was the finest he had ever seen from a candidate.” We pride ourselves on outworking the competition and preparing our clients for all possible scenarios.
Balch Sports has negotiated contracts for NFL and collegiate head coaches, coordinators, and assistants as well as multi-national Fortune 500 corporations. We bring these resources and expertise to the table when negotiating contracts for all of our clients. We have obtained market data regarding the current compensation structure at all levels, in all leagues and at all positions and stay current with the various trends, including multi-layered compensation clauses, expansive bonus clauses, annuity agreements, guarantee provisions, retirement clauses, and multi-year coordinator’s and assistant’s contracts.
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
From draft preparation, through contract negotiation, to estate planning, Balch Sports can help athletes realize their athletic and economic potential in professional sports.
Balch Sports has a plan in place to help you get ready for NFL pre-Draft combines, individual workouts, and college all-star games. The Firm provides flexible programs that allow you to train under some of the most renowned instructors in America.
The contract that governs your professional career is only the first of many legal needs. While you focus on your profession, Balch Sports will focus on the complex legal aspects of your career.
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NFL Negotiations – In 1993, after years of costly litigation, the dynamics of negotiating National Football League player contracts changed drastically with a new collective bargaining agreement. The agreement is complex and lengthy: 200 pages with 60 articles and 15 appendices. Interpreting this document has spawned a multitude of legal disputes. We know and understand the collective bargaining agreement and how to maximize your economic potential within the CBA’s guidelines.
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MLB Arbitration – Players with at least 3 but less than 6 years of service in Major League Baseball as well as “Super 2” players can be eligible for salary arbitration. Balch Sports has significant experience in high-profile MLB salary arbitration cases resulting in millions of dollars worth of increased salary for players. As a full service law firm, Balch & Bingham LLP brings years of both agent experience and litigation experience to the arbitration table in zealously representing its arbitration clients.
SERVICES FOR COACHES & PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
The most successful coaches and athletes are often presented endorsement opportunities. Balch Sports works to maximize earnings by helping negotiate such endorsement and commercial opportunities consistent with your image as a coach or professional athlete. These opportunities may include public appearances, commercials, print advertisements, and product endorsements.
Balch Sports can provide legal advice in the following financial areas to maximize earnings:
Branding Issues
Real Estate Transactions
Tax Planning
Estate Planning
Unlike many other firms, Balch Sports is not affiliated with any financial advisor or money manager, and offers no in-house money management services. Instead, Balch Sports will assist coaches and players in retaining the financial advisor best suited for their individual position. This creates a system of checks and balances designed to most benefit you.
Balch Sports has been able to leverage its vast pool of resources, including contacts in the sports, consulting, scouting, political, business and booster community to provide you with the latest on what is happening in the sports world while allowing you to do what you do best…Coach and Play! Our expansive resource pool allows clients to meet other clients and contacts on a social and professional basis. This synergy is a great resource in the “who you know” sports world.
Balch Sports interest does not begin and end with your sports career. Our goal is to help you achieve lifetime financial security and personal stability. Whether it be preparing for retirement, transitioning into a media-related position, or developing a career outside of the sports world, Balch Sports stands ready to assist you.
We value our clients and get to know you on both a personal and professional level. We are always there, through good times and bad, on issues ranging from the right time to renegotiate to late night conversations discussing how your most recent game played out.
ATTORNEYS
Balch & Bingham LLP’s sports practice offers the service and expertise needed to navigate through a successful career. The legal team is headed by Russ Campbell, a professional sports advisor who is a registered agent and a certified contract advisor for the National Football League Players Association. He has represented more than 30 professional athletes in football, basketball and baseball, over 20 collegiate coaches, and various entertainment personalities. Patrick Strong is also a registered agent and NFLPA certified Contract Advisor who handles the day-to-day operations of the practice. Patrick’s background and experience provide clients with an invaluable resource to help capitalize on opportunities in the manner most beneficial to the client.
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Russ Campbell
205.226.3438 office
800.762.2426 x 3438 office
205.229.4701 cell phone
205.488.5859 fax
Email:
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Patrick Strong
205.226.3474 office
800.762.2426 x 3474 office
205.253.2175 cell phone
205.488.5619 fax
Email:
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REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
* Contact Balch Sports for complete client list
SELECTED COACHING CLIENTS
Gene Chizik - Auburn
Sonny Dykes - Louisiana Tech
Larry Fedora - North Carolina
Chris Hatcher - Murray State
Mark Hudspeth - Louisiana-Lafayette
Joey Jones - South Alabama
Garrick McGee - UAB
Bobby Petrino - Former Arkansas
Rick Stockstill - Middle Tennessee State
Pat Sullivan - Samford
Ray Tanner - South Carolina
Chris Beatty - Illinois (Co-OC)
Mike Bobo - Georgia (OC)
Neal Brown - Texas Tech (OC)
Geoff Collins - Mississippi State (Co-DC)
Bryan Harsin - Texas (Co-OC)
Vic Koenning - North Carolina (DC)
Seth Littrell - Indiana (OC)
Todd Monken - Oklahoma State (OC)
Charlton Warren - Air Force (DC)
Mike Shula - Carolina Panthers (QB) (Co-representation with J. Mark Rodger)
Joe Whitt, Jr. - Green Bay Packers (CB)
SELECTED PLAYER CLIENTS
Curtis Alexander - Former RB (Broncos/Dolphins/Bills)
Fred Beasley - Former RB (49ers/Dolphins/Redskins)
Adam Bryant - SS (Twins Organization)
Shannon Brown - Former DL (Falcons/Redskins/Jets)
Brannon Condren - Former S (Colts/Dolphins/Rams)
Cornelius Griffin - Former DL (Giants/Redskins)
Patrick Hape - Former TE (Bucs)
Clay Jones - 1B (Tigers Organization)
Matt Lane - LHP (White Sox Organization)
Alfred Malone - Former DL (Packers/Texans)
Michael Moore - Former OL (Redskins/Falcons)
David Palmer - Former RB (Vikings)
Bradley Sowell - OT (Ole Miss)
Andrew Wicker - Former OG (Jets)
Cornelius Wortham - Former LB (Seahawks/Saints)
Bear Woods - LB (Falcons/Montreal Alouettes)
LEGAL REPRESENTATION ONLY
AJ Burnett - Arbitration Counsel (Yankees)
Mike Hampton - Arbitration Counsel (Braves)
Chris Samuels - Former OL (Redskins)